Finally I received some Loire. Loire is perhaps my favourite wine area so I find it extremely frustrating that Alko ignores it (apart from a few generic Sauvignons and that happens to be the one major grape in the Loire that I'm not that keen on) and that my job isn't so well paid that I can order a case or six from abroad whenever I want some Chenin or the real Cabernet or Pineau d'Aunis. But sometimes I need to splurge, so I ordered these recently:

1999 Domaine Pierre de la Grange (Luneau-Papin) Muscadet de Sèvre-et-Maine Sur Lie Le "L" d'Or12%. I've not had much aged Muscadet so it was nice to try this. Very light gold colour, almost colourless. The nose is supremely perfumed when compared to young Muscadet: there is a saline/ozone base but that is coupled with a wonderfully floral high-note. It is a sweet and apricotty aroma and almost like Condrieu (except much more attractive than any Condrieu I've had). Crisp, but quite rich for Muscadet. Unending, delightfully saline finish. Great wine. And though nice to drink now, it seems like it can still age. But don't trust me on this because I have so little experience with older Muscadet.

2011 Frantz Saumon Montlouis-sur-Loire Minéral+13% abv. The 2009 of this was one few the Loire 2009s that I really, really loved. And this 2011 is no different: wonderful appley Chenin fruit, pure and clean with no funky aspects of Chenin showing - but despite the name I don't really sense minerality here. But I don't really mind because pure Chenin fruit is always very pleasurable. Quite rich, not terribly high in acid but still with good grip so the sensations are almost as if this were tannic. This evaporates very quickly. Very nice!

2011 Huët Vouvray Sec Le Haut-Lieu13% abv. Quite mute: the funky/woolly and citric expression of Chenin is obvious but the rest of what Chenin can be is mostly hiding. What can be sensed from the aroma would suggest a lean and tight wine but it is actually quite gentle for such a young Huet, almost demi-sec in style. But I love Huet's demi-sec so read that as a compliment. It seems very promising and I'm happy to have a bottle open to see what happens over the next few days (what happened was that the funky aspects somewhat calmed and the fruity ones emerged - not much of a surprise!). And I'm even more happy to have 5 more of these resting. Probably will turn out very nice, but do not open now.

2010 Clos Roche Blanche Touraine Cuvée Pif12% abv; 65% Cabernet Franc, 35% Côt. Slightly lactic aroma; very floral and slightly herbaceous, deliciously Franc wine. Wonderfully light yet with good, grippy tannins but surprisingly low acidity (though don't worry, this is anything but flabby). Though the fruit is quite primary it has a lovely savoury edge to it that makes it irresistible now though short-medium term ageing would seem like a good idea (and though I have 11 left, I think that's not quite enough that I'll be able to age these ). Moreish and wonderful.

2011 Catherine et Pierre Breton Bourgueil Trinch!12% abv. On day one this was unpleasantly reductive and smelled only of plastic. A day of exposure to air brought about a wonderful transformation. Now this smells wonderfully lifted and with youthful, darkish fruit and though I sense no oak it does seem rather spicy. Dry and light body, pure, clean and deliciously tannic. Very nice but needs much air to show well now.

I don't drink wine because of religious reasons ... only for other reasons.